Oscoz sanchez
folding table



Jun 8, 1965 P. J. M. oscoz SANCHEZ 3,188,158

INVENT OR PASCUAL JOSE MARIA 03002 SANCHEZ June 8, 1965 P. J. M. OSCOZ SANCHEZ FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 Filed March 8. 1962 FIG.G

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PASCUAL JOSE MARIA 03002 SANCHEZ AITORNYS United States Patent 3,188,158- FOLDING TABLE Pscual Jos Maria Oscoz Sanchez, ,Ibanez de Bilbao 6,

' p Bilbao, Spain Filed Mar. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 178,505 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-277) This invention relates to a piece of furniture convertible for several uses and more particularly to the concept of constructing tables useable separately and fitted to combine with other furniture to forma conjunction and to the formal conjnctions.

Tables according to the invention are more managea-' ble, easier to transport and carry and when not in sepa rate use but combined with the furniture they occupy a minimum space.

' A primary object of this invention is to provide foldble tables which not only gain in the foldingbut also save space when stored as part of another piece of furniture while enhancing the appearance of such furniture.

'To enabl e a clearer understanding of the invention and its objects, a -number of embodiments will be described withjreference to the attached drawings in which various pieces of furniture are represented more or less diagrammatieally, as limited and preferred forms of the invention, susceptible to change of details without altering its essential characteristics.

In the following drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective Views of the table accordingto the invention showing the table folded and partially unfolded.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar perspective views of another embodiment of the table.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are similar perspective views of another modifid table in Which the table top is revolvable over a sliding frame which facilitates the folding.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the table of FIG. 6 completely unfolded.

FIGURE 8 shows the same table of the three previous figures with its top revolved 90 with respect to the position which appears in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a table according to the previous figures joined to and forming an exterior face ofa furniture piece.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the furniture piece 3f FIGURE 9 separated for independent use.

Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings it is' apparent that a table top is foreseen according to the invention which may be supported by a great variety of oldable leg structures embodying three, four or more .e s.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show table top supports having three egs. The types of folding are performed depending on he diverse structures. Each leg is c-onstituted by two qieces forming a dihedral of et variable opening due to the oining hinge joints between both pieces along the rib. lhe leg joined by the hinge joints 1 is united at its upper txtremes by undivided girders to the other two legs which 1re in turn joined respectively by hinge joints 2 and 2. a third girder that joins these two legs is split in its center tnd the split halvcs joined by hinge joints 2". FIGURE 2 :learly i1lustrates how the folding and unfolding of such trueture is performed.

The union of girders and legs is hidden in the places vhere spaces are provided which enable the superposiion of the folded parts and this is facilitated if the parts md spaces have substantiafly the same thickness.

A type et support utilizing four legs is iIlustrated in IGURES 3 and 4. Also in this case the legs are essenially dihedrical with joining limes along hinge joints 10. wo opposite upper girders are undivided and the other Patearted Jurae 8, 1965 two are joined in its center by hinge joints or similar means 11. To partially cover the empty space in the interior of the area surrounded by the girders, semi-stretchers 12, 12, which are of equal length and joined together and to the central parts of the girders, are used as guides of the conjunction to prevent movements laterally thereof during extension.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate clearly how the folding and unfolding of the leg structure are performed.

The above supports are described as examples only and demonstrate the possibility of constructing a folding table leg structure which is simple and which in 'accordance with an important object of the invention enabies the incorporation of the table tops, or boards, to provide collapsible tables et extraordinary compactibility with the consequent saving of space, easy transportation, etc.

After this first objective is reached in a way that will be discussed hereinafter, a further goal of the invention is to utilize the boards of folded tables to cover, or close, the furniture in which they are kept and for other applications immediately or mediately derived from the first two objectives.

A table top that is laid over the girders of the support and joined to one of the undivided girders by a line or hinge joints, or similar means, can tilt and fold against the folded support but it will remain in an eccentric position excessively overlapping the upper'portions of the legs and not totally covering the folded leg surfaces. Therefore, it is necessary to add a means for sliding the table top, after it is depressed or folded, to adjust the position of the folded top 'With relation to the folded support structure.

Within the concept of the invention a simple and effec tive solution is conceived to overcome the difiiculty of completely covering the legs. Actually, the table tops are united to the support structures, which include the legs and its girders, by means of frames which are constituted of two parts; one of these parts is joined to the corresponding undivided girder by means of hinge joints or similar means; the other part slides With respect to the first part in a direction perpendicular to the axis of folding.

This solution is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 for a table With a round top and three legs and in the FIGURES 3 and 4 for a table with a rectangular top and four legs.

In both cases, and extensive to other embodiments, the lower face of the table top is provided With two parallel guide strips 4, 4l, fixed to the top. These strips present in their front face a profile which permits a rectangular piece or element 6 to be slidingly retained and guided. The sliding may be relative, that is to say, it can be of the conjunction 4, 4' in 6, or of 6 in the conjunction 4, 4. In the cases thus far described, the first possibility is illus trated, inasmuch as piece 6 is joined to one of the undivided girders of the support by hinge joints 5. With this construction, after tilting in one sense or the other, the table top may be slid to either its work or storage positions.

The reference numeral 7 indicates the circular board, while 7' indicates the rectangular one. The rectangular form of course is more suitable to the utilization as a cabinet closure.

A circular board 7, once centered by sliding over support leg structure, cannot yield diverse orientation by revolution with relation to the legs. But with the rectangular boards 7 or square boards, unlimited possibilities of orientation and folding are possible by revolving the board around a vertical axis.

This is illustrated in FIGURES 5-8 wherein a trame including the sliding element 6 is joined by hinge joints to an undivided girder. The frame includes the pair of guides 4, 4' and, to give a greater firmness, a transverse 4" uniting the free ends of the guides.

The connection between sliding element 6 and top 7' is effeted by a circular element 13 fastened to the top and which permits the relative revolution; in this case the revolution 7' over 6.

Thestrncture in FIGURES} and 40115 and'6'may be.

adaptecl to.jutilize the tbp,of -the folded table as the front wall ofa furniture,piee in which ;the table leg structure is containegl or store d,

portable beds, may utilize the board 7 as a surface other than the front. r

The above described embodime nts areexamples only of sorrie applications of the inventive concept or'systm. All ,the described embodiments -are very useful for camping, picnicking, in trailers towedby cars, for table games su has pingpong,,and many other applications. The shape s of the table tops ,obviously are legi0n and may be such as to confirni esthetic or any other typesof requirernents, 7 r

I clairn: A folding table comprising a plurality of vertical legs, a rigid horizontal gir der'fixed to the upper endsof a pair of said legs lying in one plane, additional horizontal gird ers at leastone of whichis foldableforming a closed continuous framegand securing the remaining legs to said first horizontal girder and pair of legs to form a unitarleg assembly, said addtional girders being arranged to permit the remaining legs to be swung -to lie in a vertical plane adjacent the plane of said pair of legs, a top panel for seating on said continuons frame of horizontal gird ers, a pair of parallel guides perpendicular to said rigid girder under said panel, a slide movable in said gnides,

hinge elements'conflecting said rigid girder and unitary leg assembly to said pair of guides, and pivot means fastening said slide to said panel to permit'rotatin of the panel in its own plane, whereby upon folding the table said legs and girder s are swingable to lieinadjace'nt vertical planesflndtheri.turnahleas a Unit aboutsidhinge: elmentsio li}aainst theundflsde of thepanl andfinallyare slideable" as aunit tocenterthe legs and girdersso as to completly underlie the Panel wi-thdtextefiding beyond -its periplrery ,to enablense ofhe, topanel as a cabinet closure, and wherby -upon unfolding the table themovable to ceriter the xtendedlegs and girders,urrder thetop paneI.. t

References .ited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 334,946 1/86 Gage 108-123 2,118,620 5/38 Orsenigo 108-63 x 2,440,131 4/4 Wayne --10838' FOREIGN PATENTS.

387,088 2/33 GreatBritain.

1,064,991 12/53 France.

FRANK ,B. SHERRY, PrimaryiExaminer. 

